[Album Review] Love Effect (7th Mini Album) – ONF

After completing their military enlistment at the same time in June 2023 (a first in KPOP to navigate the biggest cause of prolonged hiatus in male KPOP groups), ONF returned in October 2023 with their 7th mini-album, Love Effect. It is their first comeback since their special album release of Storage of ONF in 2022 in the midst of their military enlistments, which featured the title track Your Song. Love Effect (the mini-album) features a total of 5 songs, including their latest title track of the same name.

Overall, this new mini-album is a solid way to ease us back into ONF, with the title track itself borrowing that similar sound profile that I personally liked from their title tracks that they released prior to the military enlistments in 2021 (i.e., Beautiful Beautiful) and the others songs demonstrating the group’s variability with different sounds and genres. Continue reading to find out what my thoughts on each individual song are below.

1. Be Here Now – Kicking off the mini-album is the single Be Here Now, which lyrics are about the future that ONF wants with their fans (FUSEs). I really like the cheerful and feel-good vibe that the verses bring to the song, and the choruses are an inclusive extension of that thanks to the members singing together. Wyatt’s rapping in the bridge brings a playful vibe to the mix, while the only pre-chorus in Be Here Now is extremely pleasant (so much so, that it stands out to me). (9/10)

2. Love Effect (바람이 분다) – Click here for the review for Love Effect. (9/10)

3. Dam Dam Di Ram – ONF taps into hip-hop territory with this dance track, which to me sounds like a typical male KPOP group release. It just sounds plain and doesn’t really feel as exciting as some of their other tracks on this mini-album. Also, Dam Dam Di Ram is a lot more serious and heavier than ONF’s other releases, which is a departure from what we hear from ONF usually. That being said, there are some good moments and aspects to the song, such as Hyojin and Seungjun’s (formerly J-Us) unique vocals in the pre-choruses, Wyatt’s very low tone rap-speak in the second verse and the refreshing flute that features in the background throughout the song. (7.5/10)

4. Arrival – Whilst Arrival is also quite hefty and serious like releases from other male groups, I do find that Arrival does a much better job of showcasing ONF’s style and colour. Just check out the chorus, and I think you will know what I am talking about (if you have been a long-time fan of ONF). The synth wave instrumentation behind Arrival is a lot more dynamic and this definitely helps make the song more appealing. The detailing we hear in the background introduces some crunchy textures, while I felt was very cool. (8.5/10)

5. Wind Effect (바람이 부는 이유) – The final song on the album is (surprise, surprise) a ballad. It is a lovely song to end on, with a soft piano instrumental and pleasant vocals to round out of the mini-album. Given the title of this track is rather similar to the title track of this release, the lyrics of Wind Effect reads in as a potential lead into the title track – Wind Effect depicts the beginning of love, while Love Effect (the title track) depicts the falling in love. (8/10)